[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6330-S6334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I have the happy occasion to actually
pass a law. It is one that I have been working on for some time. So I
have taken the opportunity to come to the floor to actually move it
through myself. Yet, before I do that, there are a considerable number
of thank yous that are in order.
The first and foremost thank you is to Senator Dan Sullivan of
Alaska, who chaired the subcommittee hearing that first moved this
issue before the Senate in a bipartisan fashion within the Environment
and Public Works Committee. It was a really important thing for Senator
Sullivan to have done. In part, it solved the problem between the
Environment and Public Works Committee and the Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee over jurisdiction in this area. We are very
fortunate that Senator Sullivan served both as the chairman of the
relevant Environment and Public Works Committee and also of the
Fisheries Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee so that he was in a
position to negotiate with himself over jurisdiction and, obviously,
come to a happy conclusion.
I thank Senator Inhofe, who was an early sponsor of this legislation.
He attended the hearing. I will confess that when Senator Inhofe came
to our hearing on the Environment and Public Works Committee on an
environmental matter, I was not convinced that it was a positive turn
of events for the bill, but Senator Inhofe could not have been more
gracious and took a very strong interest in this piece of legislation.
He was an original cosponsor, so I thank him as well.
I thank Senator Murkowski. In her being from Alaska, she joined
Senator Sullivan. Alaska has a terrific problem with the issue that we
are addressing. The issue at hand is marine plastic debris--the plastic
waste with which we are filling the ocean. In Rhode Island, we do beach
cleanups whereby people go up and down the beach and pick up the
plastic trash that has washed ashore. We do those with trash bags. In
Alaska, they do those with front-end loaders, dumpsters, and barges,
because Alaska faces the Pacific, and there is far more plastic waste
and trash in the Pacific. The worst sources for plastic waste and trash
are Asian countries, which have
[[Page S6331]]
terrible upland waste disposal infrastructure. It ends up in the creek,
and it ends up in the river, and it ends up in the sea. So Alaska has
had a terrific role.
Senator Murkowski's role was as my coordinate on the Oceans Caucus.
She helped to make sure that the Oceans Caucus--a group of 38
Senators--supported this. It was a very bipartisan group, so that
provided some added oomph to all of this, if that is not too informal a
word to use on the Senate floor.
I also thank my original Democratic cosponsor, Senator Booker.
A lot of people have had a hand in this, and there were a great
number of sponsors. I appreciate all of them for their support in all
of this.
We have had an interesting time because the bill actually passed the
Senate before, but when colleagues saw something moving, they wanted to
put things on it. So a few pieces have been added from the House side
that relate to maritime safety and a Coast Guard Center of Excellence,
which we welcome onto the bill and appreciate now that we have the
chance to finally pass it.
I also thank Adena Leibman, of my staff, who has just been very
persistent and thorough about making this happen and has worked very
well with staff members from the offices involved in having helped to
coordinate all of my activities with the Oceans Caucus. She has done a
really exemplary staff job. As the Presiding Officer knows, the common
description of Senators around here is that we are walking
constitutional impediments to the smooth and orderly operation of
staff. While Senators may disagree with that from time to time, Adena
Leibman certainly does a smooth and orderly operation of staff, and I
appreciate her.
Senator Sullivan could not be here. We had hoped to be able to do
this together, but I do express to him my very, very strong
appreciation for what a really wonderful partner he has been in all of
this. Not only are we excited to pass the Save Our Seas Act, but we are
already working on SOS 2.0. Just today, in the Environment and Public
Works Committee, we held another hearing on marine plastics--this one
at the full committee level, led by Senator Barrasso. So I owe Senator
Barrasso a thank you.
I find it interesting that at today's hearing, the two leading
Republicans on the committee who were there, at the top--Dan and I are
more junior--were Senator Barrasso and Senator Inhofe, both of whom
were present, both of whom were productive and helpful, and both who
suffer this terrible disability of living in landlocked States. They
don't actually have a coast. Yet they have been helpful in moving this
forward. We also had a terrific coalition of business and other
interests.
You have seen the reaction around the world to know how this problem
has suddenly emerged onto the national and international stages, and I
think we are really in a terrific position, after we pass this bill, to
move on, I hope, with equal bipartisanship and alacrity, and pass our
Save Our Seas 2.0.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of S. 3508, introduced earlier today by Senator
Sullivan and me.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3508) to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris
Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris,
and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered
read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be
considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 3508) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 3508
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''.
TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS
SEC. 101. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.
Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies
with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine
debris;
``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels,
in consultation with the Department of State and other
Federal agencies, promote international action, as
appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine debris,
including providing technical assistance to expand waste
management systems internationally; and
``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe
marine debris event under subsection (c)--
``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by the
severe marine debris event; or
``(B) conduct such other activity as the Administrator
determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine
debris event.'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of
the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an
affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether
there is a severe marine debris event.''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)''
and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an
activity carried out under a determination made under
subsection (c) shall be--
``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an
activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person,
including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal
Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine
debris event; or
``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any
activity other than an activity funded as described in clause
(i).''.
SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO
RESPOND TO MARINE DEBRIS.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
(1) support research and development on systems and
materials that reduce--
(A) derelict fishing gear; and
(B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from land-
based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the
marine environment;
(2) work with representatives of foreign countries that
discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based
sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to
reduce such discharges;
(3) carry out studies to determine--
(A) the primary means of discharges referred to in
paragraph (2);
(B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can
be most effective in preventing such discharges; and
(C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national
economies of the countries with which work is undertaken
under paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the
impacts of reducing the discharge of such debris;
(4) work with representatives of the countries with which
work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more
new international agreements that include provisions--
(A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste
into the marine environment; and
(B) to provide technical assistance and investment in waste
management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the
President determines such assistance or investment is
appropriate; and
(5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to
consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste
from the countries with which work is conducted under
paragraph (2) in relevant future trade agreements.
SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING GREAT LAKES LAND-BASED
MARINE DEBRIS ACTION PLAN.
It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based
Marine Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-
OR&R-49) is vital to the ongoing efforts to clean up the
Great Lakes Region and getting rid of harmful debris, such as
microplastics, abandoned vessels, and other forms of
pollution that are threatening the survival of native marine
animals and damaging the Great Lakes' recreation and tourism
economy.
SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS
COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) the Department of State;
``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''.
[[Page S6332]]
SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2018 through 2022 for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of
which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal
year for administrative costs.
``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts
authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of
title 14, United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized
for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to
carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 5
percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative
costs.''.
TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Hamm Alert Maritime Safety
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 202. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left
Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico,
carrying 391 shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and
a crew of 33 people, including 28 Americans.
(2) On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final
communication reporting that the engines were disabled and
the ship was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path
of Hurricane Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the
vessel and the loss of all 33 lives.
(3) The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast
Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as
improving weather information and training, improving
planning and response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast
Guard's program delegating vessel inspections to third-party
organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program, and
improving alerts and equipment on the vessels, among other
recommendations.
(4) Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017,
over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States
commercial vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were
issued ``no-sail'' requirements.
(5) The maritime industry, particularly the men and women
of the United States merchant marine, play a vital and
important role to the national security and economy of our
country, and a strong safety regime is necessary to ensure
the vitality of the industry and the protection of current
and future mariners, and to honor lost mariners.
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the
Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized
organization'' has the meaning given that term in section
2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
SEC. 204. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on
which the President submits to the Congress a budget each
year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States
Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible
Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance
with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United
States Code.
(b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of
inspected vessel; and
(2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or
surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-
issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity
that the recognized organization failed to identify in such
inspection or survey.
SEC. 205. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation
and effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight and
enforcement of safety management plans required under chapter
32 of title 46, United States Code.
(b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall
include an evaluation of--
(1) the effectiveness and implementation of safety
management plans, including such plans for--
(A) a range of vessel types and sizes; and
(B) vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional
operating areas; and
(2) the effectiveness and implementation of safety
management plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.
(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report
detailing the results of the audit and providing
recommendations related to such results, including ways to
streamline and focus such plans on ship safety.
(d) Marine Safety Alert.--Not later than 60 days after the
date the report is submitted under subsection (c), the
Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing
notification of the completion of the report and including a
link to the report on a publicly accessible website.
(e) Additional Actions.--
(1) In general.--Upon completion of the report under
subsection (c), the Commandant shall consider additional
guidance or a rulemaking to address any deficiencies
identified, and any additional actions recommended, in the
report.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the
report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has
taken to address any deficiencies identified, and any
additional actions recommended, in the report submitted under
subsection (c).
SEC. 206. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel
inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress
signaling and location technology for the higher of--
``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified
on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or
``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and
``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not
apply to vessels operating within the baseline from which the
territorial sea of the United States is measured.
``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations
requiring companies to maintain records of all incremental
weight changes made to freight vessels inspected under this
chapter, and to track weight changes over time to facilitate
rapid determination of the aggregate total.
``(2) Records maintained under paragraph (1) shall be
stored, in paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels for
not less than 3 years and shoreside for the life of the
vessel.''.
(2) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall--
(A) begin implementing the requirement under section
3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this
subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act; and
(B) promulgate the regulations required under section
3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this
subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) Engagement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter
into negotiations through the International Maritime
Organization to amend regulation 25 of chapter II-1 of the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to
require a high-water alarm sensor in each cargo hold of a
freight vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 of
title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and
visual alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.
SEC. 207. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; ACCESS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 6309. Voyage data recorder access
``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast
Guard shall have full, concurrent, and timely access to and
ability to use voyage data recorder data and audio held by
any Federal agency in all marine casualty investigations,
regardless of which agency is the investigative lead.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``6309. Voyage data recorder access.''.
SEC. 208. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Float-Free and Beacon Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter
into negotiations through the International Maritime
Organization to amend regulation 20 of chapter V of the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to
require that all voyage data recorders are installed in a
float-free arrangement and contain an integrated emergency
position indicating radio beacon.
(2) Progress update.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives an update on the progress of
the engagement required under paragraph (1).
(b) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a cost-benefit analysis of requiring that
voyage data recorders installed on commercial vessels
documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code,
capture communications on the internal telephone systems of
such vessels, including requiring the capture of both sides
of all communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.
[[Page S6333]]
SEC. 209. SURVIVAL AND LOCATING EQUIPMENT.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commandant shall, subject to the availability
of appropriations, identify and procure equipment that will
provide search-and-rescue units the ability to attach a radio
or Automated Identification System strobe or beacon to an
object that is not immediately retrievable.
SEC. 210. TRAINING OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL.
(a) Prospective Sector Commander Training.--Not later than
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall implement an Officer in Charge, Marine
Inspections segment to the sector commander indoctrination
course for prospective sector commanders without a Coast
Guard prevention ashore officer specialty code.
(b) Steamship Inspections.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall
implement steam plant inspection training for Coast Guard
marine inspectors and, subject to availability, recognized
organizations to which authority is delegated under section
3316 of title 46, United States Code.
(c) Advanced Journeyman Inspector Training.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish
advanced training to provide instruction on the oversight of
recognized organizations to which authority is delegated
under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, auditing
responsibilities, and the inspection of unique vessel types.
(2) Recipients.--The Commandant shall--
(A) require that such training be completed by senior Coast
Guard marine inspectors; and
(B) subject to availability of training capacity, make such
training available to recognized organization surveyors
authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct inspections.
(d) Coast Guard Inspections Staff; Briefing.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a briefing detailing--
(1) the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the
current size of the Coast Guard's traveling inspector staff;
and
(2) other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance
and maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of
increased reliance on--
(A) civilian marine inspectors;
(B) experienced licensed mariners;
(C) retired members of the Coast Guard;
(D) arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride onboard
commercial oceangoing vessels documented under chapter 121 of
title 46, United States Code, to gain experience and insight;
and
(E) extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine safety
officers assigned to inspection billets.
(e) Audits; Coast Guard Attendance and Performance.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Commandant shall--
(1) update Coast Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to
target the attendance of Coast Guard personnel during
external safety management certificate and document of
compliance audits; and
(2) perform a quality assurance audit of recognized
organization representation and performance regarding United
States-flagged vessels.
SEC. 211. MAJOR MARINE CASUALTY PROPERTY DAMAGE THRESHOLD.
Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``$500,000'' and inserting
``$2,000,000''.
SEC. 212. REVIEWS, BRIEFINGS, REPORTS, AND TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS.
(a) Major Conversion Determinations.--
(1) Review of policies and procedures.--The Commandant
shall conduct a review of policies and procedures for making
and documenting major conversion determinations, including an
examination of the deference given to precedent.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives a briefing on the findings of
the review required by paragraph (1).
(b) Ventilators, Openings and Stability Standards.--
(1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review
of the effectiveness of United States regulations,
international conventions, recognized organizations' class
rules, and Coast Guard technical policy regarding--
(A) ventilators and other hull openings;
(B) fire dampers and other closures protecting openings
normally open during operations;
(C) intact and damage stability standards under subchapter
S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(D) lifesaving equipment for mariners, including survival
suits and life jackets.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives a briefing on the
effectiveness of the regulations, international conventions,
recognized organizations' class rules, and Coast Guard
technical policy reviewed under paragraph (1).
(c) Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys.--Not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a briefing on the reliability of self-
locating datum marker buoys and other similar technology used
during Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations. The briefing
shall include a description of reasonable steps the
Commandant could take to increase the reliability of such
buoys, including the potential to leverage technology used by
the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to conduct
testing of such buoys before using them for operations.
(d) Correction.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section
502(f)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory
Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)) (as in effect on the
day before the amendments made by section 11607 of Public Law
114-94 (129 Stat. 1698) took effect)--
(A) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, and in consultation with the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget, shall define the term ``cohorts of
loans'';
(B) before the deadline described in paragraph (2), shall
return to the original source, on a pro rata basis, the
credit risk premiums paid for the loans in the cohort of
loans, with interest accrued thereon, that were not used to
mitigate losses; and
(C) shall not treat the repayment of a loan after the date
of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as precluding, limiting, or
negatively affecting the satisfaction of the obligation of
its cohort prior to the enactment of Public Law 114-94.
(2) Deadline described.--The deadline described in this
paragraph is--
(A) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have
been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act; and
(B) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have
not been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date on
which all obligations attached to the cohort of loans are
satisfied.
(e) Oversight Program; Effectiveness.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an
assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard's
oversight of recognized organizations and its impact on
compliance by and safety of vessels inspected by such
organizations.
(2) Experience.--The assessment commissioned under
paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a research organization
with significant experience in maritime operations and marine
safety.
(3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 180 days after
the date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is
completed, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives the results of such assessment.
SEC. 213. FLAG-STATE GUIDANCE AND SUPPLEMENTS.
(a) Freight Vessels; Damage Control Information.--Within 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall issue flag-State guidance for all freight
vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United
States Code, built before January 1, 1992, regarding the
inclusion of comprehensive damage control information in
safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title
46, United States Code.
(b) Recognized Organizations; United States Supplement.--
The Commandant shall--
(1) work with recognized organizations to create a single
United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for
classification of vessels; and
(2) by not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a briefing on whether it is necessary to
revise part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to
authorize only one United States Supplement to such rules.
SEC. 214. MARINE SAFETY STRATEGY.
Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``each year of an
annual'' and inserting ``of a triennial'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Annual'' and
inserting ``Triennial''; and
(B) by striking ``annual'' each place it appears and
inserting ``triennial'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year''
and inserting ``fiscal year 2020 and triennially''; and
(B) by striking ``annual plan'' and inserting ``triennial
plan''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``annually'' and
inserting ``triennially''.
[[Page S6334]]
SEC. 215. RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS; OVERSIGHT.
(a) In General.--Section 3316 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as
subsection (h), and by inserting after subsection (f) the
following:
``(g)(1) There shall be within the Coast Guard an office
that conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all
recognized organizations that act on behalf of the Coast
Guard.
``(2) The staff of the office shall include subject matter
experts, including inspectors, investigators, and auditors,
who possess the capability and authority to audit all aspects
of such recognized organizations.
``(3) In this subsection the term `recognized organization'
has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title
46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of
the enactment of the Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of
2018.''.
(b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Commandant of the
Coast Guard shall establish the office required by the
amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 2 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 216. TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTS AND HAZARD ADVISORIES FOR
MERCHANT MARINERS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations
through the International Maritime Organization to amend the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to
require that vessels subject to the requirements of such
Convention receive--
(1) timely synoptic and graphical chart weather forecasts;
and
(2) where available, timely hazard advisories for merchant
mariners, including broadcasts of tropical cyclone forecasts
and advisories, intermediate public advisories, and tropical
cyclone updates to mariners via appropriate technologies.
SEC. 217. ANONYMOUS SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM.
(a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an
anonymous safety alert pilot program.
(b) Requirements.--The pilot program established under
subsection (a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism
to allow crew members to communicate urgent and dire safety
concerns directly and in a timely manner with the Coast
Guard.
SEC. 218. MARINE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS.
(a) In General.--Not later than December 19 of 2018, and of
each of the 2 subsequent years thereafter, the Commandant
shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a briefing on the status of implementation of
each action outlined in the Commandant's final action memo
dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of
the vessel El Faro.
(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Department of Homeland Security
Inspector General shall report to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives on the status of the Coast Guard's
implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's
final action memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the
sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.
SEC. 219. DELEGATED AUTHORITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall review the
authorities that have been delegated to recognized
organizations for the alternative compliance program as
described in subpart D of part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations, and, if necessary, revise or establish policies
and procedures to ensure those delegated authorities are
being conducted in a manner to ensure safe maritime
transportation.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives a briefing on the
implementation of subsection (a).
TITLE III--CENTER OF EXPERTISE
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Blue
Technology Center of Expertise Act''.
SEC. 302. COAST GUARD BLUE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF EXPERTISE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Commandant may establish under section 58
of title 14, United States Code, a Blue Technology center of
expertise.
(b) Missions.--In addition to the missions listed in
section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, the Center
may--
(1) promote awareness within the Coast Guard of the range
and diversity of Blue Technologies and their potential to
enhance Coast Guard mission readiness, operational
performance, and regulation of such technologies;
(2) function as an interactive conduit to enable the
sharing and dissemination of Blue Technology information
between the Coast Guard and representatives from the private
sector, academia, nonprofit organizations, and other Federal
agencies;
(3) increase awareness among Blue Technology manufacturers,
entrepreneurs, and vendors of Coast Guard acquisition
policies, procedures, and business practices;
(4) provide technical support, coordination, and assistance
to Coast Guard districts and the Coast Guard Research and
Development Center, as appropriate; and
(5) subject to the requirements of the Coast Guard Academy,
coordinate with the Academy to develop appropriate curricula
regarding Blue Technology to be offered in professional
courses of study to give Coast Guard cadets and officer
candidates a greater background and understanding of Blue
Technologies.
(c) Blue Technology Exposition; Briefing.--Not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a briefing on the costs and benefits of hosting a
biennial Coast Guard Blue Technology exposition to further
interactions between representatives from the private sector,
academia, and nonprofit organizations, and the Coast Guard
and examine emerging technologies and Coast Guard mission
demands.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Blue Technology
center of expertise established under this section.
(2) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the
Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(3) Blue technology.--The term ``Blue Technology'' means
any technology, system, or platform that--
(A) is designed for use or application above, on, or below
the sea surface or that is otherwise applicable to Coast
Guard operational needs, including such a technology, system,
or platform that provides continuous or persistent coverage;
and
(B) supports or facilitates--
(i) maritime domain awareness, including--
(I) surveillance and monitoring;
(II) observation, measurement, and modeling: or
(III) information technology and communications;
(ii) search and rescue;
(iii) emergency response;
(iv) maritime law enforcement;
(v) marine inspections and investigations; or
(vi) protection and conservation of the marine environment.
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I thank the Presiding Officer. Bravo to all who
participated in making this possible.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Wicker). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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